Flights from Barcelona to Portugal from 19EUR*

Flights to Portugal from Barcelona

From Barcelona there are 3 ways into Portugal, and each one leads to a different trip. Lisbon is around 2 hours and 10 minutes away, Porto slightly less, and Faro takes you straight to the Algarve without going through either of them.

Faro is the one that changes plans most. Flying direct to the south cuts out the drive or train journey that almost everyone assumes they will have to make.

What documents you need to travel to Portugal

Portugal is part of the European Union and the Schengen Area, so Spanish and other EU citizens only need a valid national ID card or passport. No visa is required.

One detail that catches people out at the check-in desk: on flights within Schengen the Spanish ID card (DNI) must be the physical card. The digital version is only valid on flights within Spain. If you are travelling with children, each of them needs their own valid document, and if you hold another nationality, check your situation on the travel documents page before you book.

What to know when you land in Portugal

From the airport into town. All 3 airports sit close to their cities, which is unusual. In Lisbon, the metro links the terminal with the centre in about 20 minutes. In Porto, the metro line to Trindade takes around half an hour. Faro airport is a few kilometres from the old town, which is where connections to the Algarve beaches leave from.

The train between Lisbon and Porto. The journey takes under 3 hours, so you can fly into one city and out of the other without doubling back. For a week, this is the combination that works best.

Weather by region. The Alentejo and the Algarve have long, very hot summers, with temperatures above 35°C in July and August. Lisbon and Porto are milder. Spring and autumn are their best seasons, with fewer people on the streets.

Getting around the city. In Lisbon, the Viva Viagem card covers the metro, buses and trams, and you can buy it at the airport as soon as you arrive. It saves sorting out a ticket for every journey.

Portugal uses the euro, sockets are types C and F at 230V, and English works well in tourist areas.

What to do in Portugal

Lisbon

History, food and a cultural scene that goes well beyond fado. The Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, both World Heritage Sites, take in the classic sightseeing. Alfama, Mouraria and LX Factory feel like 3 separate cities within one. You can cover them on foot, hills permitting, and the hills are steeper than they look in photos.

Porto

More compact than Lisbon and easier to get to grips with in a few days. The wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia across the river, Bolhão Market and the Douro riverside will easily fill a weekend. The city has changed a great deal over the last decade, and you can taste it in the restaurants.

The Algarve

This is where the direct flight to Faro makes the difference: you land and you are on the coast. Cliffs, fine sandy coves and clear water in summer. Golf and walking the rest of the year, when it is still pleasantly warm and the beaches are empty.

The Alentejo

An hour and a half by road from Lisbon. It is the most inland and least crowded region in the country: cork, vineyards, walled towns such as Évora and produce-led cooking that is worth the detour on its own. Add it to a city break when you have 2 days to spare.

Luggage for your flight to Portugal

What you can take depends on the fare you choose when booking. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

For a weekend away, what fits in the cabin is usually enough. If the trip is longer or mixes city and beach, sorting out your luggage when you book avoids surprises at the check-in desk. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.